What's your hoe doing?

[Welder Dave]

Was there forms or plastic put around the posts before the concrete? A lot of old pole barns the posts were cemented in and the poles rotted prematurely because they soaked up the water from the concrete. Poles on the pole barn I put up had 24" holes filled with 3/4" washed rock with 2 bags of quick crete poured in first to make cookies for the poles to sit on. They make plastic pole protectors too if you're putting in a floor.

Good deal on the Rockwool insulation. It's supposed to keep mice at bay. I sure wish I could have moved my pole barn to the new property. I put it up in 2015 and to replace it now is double the money at over $84Kcad. for a 40x60x16 with a dirt floor.

 

[Swetz]

Giving my hoe some attention.

So, as previously reported, my hoe is leaking...LOL As I suspected, it was the connections on the coolant hoses I replaced about a year ago. I guess when the fittings get real cold they shrink a bit. Anyhow, I tightened all of them and then pressure tested the system for over an hour with zero leakdown...I am calling this one fixed. Hopefully next winter it doesn't do it again

I have also had a problem with the engine starting after sitting overnight. This machine has always started well, and I suspected a slight vacuum leak in the fuel system. I say vacuum because it does not leak externally under pressure. So I changed the fuel filter and the water separator bleeders and seals.



While I had the system opened I installed a primer bulb. This will be handy in the future when I change out the filters, or when I need to prime the system in general.


This seems to have fixed the problem, and the hoe is willingly starting now.

 

[Swetz]

Giving my hoe some attention (continued).

In addition to the starting problem, My machine was not cranking correctly. I recently dove into this too.
I wound up replacing the cables from the battery positive (on both batteries) and both battery negative cables to the disconnect switch.


The original cables all looked fine, but the 2 positive cables made a cracking sound when I bent them after removal. I did not investigate any further, however, I believe these were the reason the engine would not spin over




The disconnect, itself, seems fine with almost no resistance. I would have removed it, however, I have been shutting it off when the machine is in the building. I feel it is just another layer of protection to prevent something shorting out and starting a fire that could burn down my new building.



In order to make the crimps at the end of the wires, I spent ~$50 on a hydraulic crimper. Yes, it is made in China, but it really worked exceptionally well. I would totally recommend this thing!

As for wire, I used 2/0 marine grade tinned copper wire. I purchased the wire, lugs, adhesive lined shrink tubing, and terminal boot covers from battery cables USA, an online vendor.

In the end, the engine spins over better than ever.
I am calling my hoe fixed

 

[Swetz]

Was there forms or plastic put around the posts before the concrete?

No, the posts have pressure treated wood in the laminations at the bottom.

 

[stinky64]

You've been a busy little monkey. Shop looks great. Have hung steel on several ceilings, that lift is the cats pajamas.

 

[AU.CASE]

Continued in another post. Reached my limit on pic uploads.

Wow, my dream to have an 'all weather space' to fix things, right now we have two workshops, that over time have served their purpose, but lack height for machinery of this age at the wall and roller door plate, also are not suited to a climate where welding is next to impossible in Summer and simple tasks are such as machining are intolerable in Winter.

Also, really admire the sealing to prevent rodents which wreck a lot of the best in a workshop, such as my stock pile of offcuts, which is rusted and hosts nests from time to time.

 

[Deere500a]

Swetz check valve on filter housing sounds like it's leaking back

 

[AU.CASE]

Damn robins don't respect anything, building on and crappin" on a fellers machine. She'll be evicted when first batch of eggs hatch.

Hey, that is either small hoe or a very large Robin.

Son said so.

In the end, the engine spins over better than ever.

Think I might have started this fault finding trend with a recent oil leak, going to have the camera handy soon to 'get back to topic' of:

"Whats your hoe doing"

 

[Welder Dave]

No, the posts have pressure treated wood in the laminations at the bottom.

There is standard pressure treating and in-ground pressure treating. The bottom 8' of the posts for mine were the in-ground type and they went 7' deep. Water from the concrete can still penetrate the beams. I think it helps some if the concrete is a thicker sloop. I'd like to put up anther pole shed but they're just too expensive now.

 

[Swetz]

I'd like to put up anther pole shed but they're just too expensive now.

Agreed! I wanted a lean-to off the side without windows, but I was in way more than I wanted to be already, so the lean-to idea got nixed.

 

[Swetz]

Swetz check valve on filter housing sounds like it's leaking back

The hard starting started just after I serviced it last. I think that either the gasket on the filter or the gaskets on the water separator plugs were leaking. Those are the things I touched. Not sure which, but it is good now so one of them for sure.

 

[Swetz]

Wow, my dream to have an 'all weather space' to fix things,

For me, equally important to the shop to work in was a place to store my machines out of the weather. It drove me crazy to see my machines out 24/7 for years prior to the building!

 

[NH575E]

@Swetz I put a primer bulb on mine also. Last time I messed with it I had to loosen and reseat the fuel pump a couple of times to stop that oring from sucking air.

 

[Swetz]

@Swetz I put a primer bulb on mine also. Last time I messed with it I had to loosen and reseat the fuel pump a couple of times to stop that oring from sucking air.

In all honesty, you were my inspiration on the primer bulb. We previously discussed doing it. I had the system open, so I decided it was a good time to do it. Ne regrets here. I think it will be handy in the future.

AS far as sealing, i purchased every plug and O-ring in the fuel delivery system, including the ones for the pump (they were crazy expensive from NH too). I did not use them all. I started with what I disturbed in my last service and it seems good now. I have a bunch of O-rings if I need them in the future...LOL

 

[NH575E]

@Swetz Yeah the primer bulb not only adds a convenient way to prime the system it adds another check valve to prevent fuel from going back to the tank if any seals are leaking.

 

[Welder Dave]

For me, equally important to the shop to work in was a place to store my machines out of the weather. It drove me crazy to see my machines out 24/7 for years prior to the building!

That's the main reason I put up a pole shed. Wish I could have put it up earlier. I think I'll have to settle for a fabric building on the new property. The better quality ones are pricey too but I want something that will handle severe weather and last. If only I would have known I would have put a fabric building originally. Then it could have been moved easily.

 

[T-town]

Great job on your barn Swetz.....

 

[AU.CASE]

Just bumped into this and for us, it describes just how versatile a strong hoe is around a farm.

I found that wooden posts sunk to the bedrock or at least 4' / 1,200MM remain in place properly, then fit that 'tall boy' post and compact, so yes, there is no end to their proof as "the King of tools."

 

[Welder Dave]

With a 4 in 1 bucket you have the ultimate fence post tool. You can push them in and pull them out.

 

[AU.CASE]

Went out to improve water for some stock today, hoe is really well after the welding and a failed hose (which it must have known should alert the operator right at the workshop and not deep in some job, way out, where I'd have to walk back!) also a couple of historic images, any wonder I was fascinated with machines.

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Improved this dam / tank / pond with safer water to the edge.

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Another dam, better, cleaner and safer.

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Now this is your writer in 1964 with a close family friend starting his career as a dozer owner / operator (and his Dad's David Brown dozer) making the dam above.

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Same again, moments later, taken by my Mum with an "Olympus Wide-E 35MM camera."

Learning to laminate that wall